The Los Angeles Dodgers have several decisions to make as they approach the deadline to protect eligible prospects from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

With organizations required to finalize their 40-man rosters by Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, the Dodgers must determine which players from their farm system warrant a spot on the major-league roster.

Six prospects ranked among the organization's top 30 could be exposed if Los Angeles elects not to protect them.

The most prominent name in that group is right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta, who enters the offseason as the Dodgers' No. 5 prospect and No. 33 overall on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list.

Zazueta stands out as the organization's highest-ranked prospect approaching Rule 5 eligibility. His position on the overall prospect rankings makes his roster situation particularly noteworthy as the Dodgers evaluate their options.

Losing a player of his standing without receiving anything in return would be a notable outcome for an organization that has consistently invested in developing young talent.

Los Angeles also has two left-handed pitchers among its eligible prospects. Adam Serwinowski, ranked No. 14 in the system, and Jackson Ferris, ranked No. 17, give the Dodgers additional pitching decisions to consider.

The Dodgers' remaining eligible prospects are position players with Logan Wagner (No. 19) and Nico Perez (No. 22) providing infield options.

Noah Miller, ranked No. 25, rounds out the group. Miller has experience at both shortstop and third base, giving him versatility across the infield.

Protecting all six prospects would require the Dodgers to dedicate additional space on their 40-man roster. That decision becomes more complicated when considering the organization's other offseason priorities and potential major-league additions.

The Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select eligible players who have not been protected by their original organizations. During the Major League phase, a selecting club must pay $100,000 and keep the player on its 26-man roster throughout the following season.

If the player cannot remain on that roster, then he must be offered back to his original organization for $50,000.

Players originally signed at 18 or younger generally become eligible after five seasons, while those signed at 19 or older become eligible after four.

The Dodgers have until Tuesday's deadline to determine which of their six prospects deserve protection. With Zazueta ranking among the top 35 prospects in baseball, his situation will be particularly interesting to monitor as Los Angeles works through its offseason roster decisions.